Pumpkin Spice and the Power of Partnership: A Gopher Tortoise Story
October 31, 2025
In the new short documentary, A Tortoise Called Pumpkin Spice, viewers meet a tiny survivor with a big mission.
Hatched from the egg of a female gopher tortoise tragically killed by a vehicle, Pumpkin Spice was the sole hatchling to emerge and thrive under the care of Georgia wildlife experts. Today, she’s not just a juvenile tortoise—she’s an ambassador for one of the Southeast’s imperiled species.
But Pumpkin Spice’s journey is part of a much larger success story.
Georgia Reaches Major Gopher Tortoise Conservation Milestone
In September 2025, the Georgia Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative announced it had reached its ambitious goal: permanently protecting 65 viable gopher tortoise populations across the state. This achievement is the result of a decade of collaboration among nearly 30 partners, including state and federal agencies, nonprofits, private landowners, and conservation foundations.
The initiative’s work has helped keep Georgia’s state reptile off the federal Endangered Species Act list, preserving not only the tortoise but also the 100,000 acres of longleaf pine habitat it depends on. These sandy uplands are home to hundreds of other species, many of which rely on the gopher tortoises' deep burrows.
From Hatchling to Headstart Hero
Pumpkin Spice’s journey — from a rescued egg to a thriving juvenile in a headstarting program — mirrors the broader conservation strategy that Georgia has embraced. Headstarting gives young tortoises a better chance at survival, and habitat protection ensures they have a place to thrive once released.
The film follows biologists from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as they release headstarted tortoises into the wild, monitor burrows, and restore longleaf pine ecosystems. It’s a visual celebration of the science, care, and community behind species recovery.
Discover Pumpkin Spice’s story and be inspired by what’s possible when people come together for conservation.
A Tortoise Called Pumpkin Spice is a film by Magic Kumquat Productions, directed by Laura Albritton with videography by Zickie Allgrove. Featuring Berkeley Boone, Shan Cammack, James Hunt, and Jessica Radich and narrated by Emily Proctor Sutton. Produced by Shan Cammack, Carol Denhof, Reese Thompson, and Reese Thompson II. Made with support from The Environmental Resources Network (TERN) and assistance from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Division and The Longleaf Alliance.